In what many observers have described as a historic step towards equity and balanced governance, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa, a prominent socio-political advocacy organisation, has launched a statewide sensitisation campaign championing the cause of governorship power rotation across Oyo State’s diverse geopolitical zones.
The official flag-off of the advocacy movement took place at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, where stakeholders from across the state gathered for deliberations and strategy sessions. The event, which ran from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, marked the beginning of what the group described as “a decisive moral and democratic campaign to entrench fairness in Oyo State’s political landscape.”
Speaking at the launch, the National Chairman of the group, Engr. Dauda Olaifa Alade, underscored the urgency of addressing what he termed “systemic exclusion and political imbalance” in the state.
“Oyo State belongs to all of us, not to one zone, not to one people. For peace, justice, and sustainable development to reign, every region must be given a fair shot at the governorship seat. Our unity must be built on fairness, and our future must be guided by inclusivity,” Alade declared.
The group lamented that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, the governorship of Oyo State has been disproportionately concentrated within one political zone, leaving other regions such as Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo, and Ibarapa at the margins of state leadership.
Stakeholders from different geopolitical zones of the state, who were present at the occasion, threw their weight behind the call for equity. They unanimously declared that, in the spirit of fairness, the next governor of Oyo State should emerge from Oke-Ogun, a region they said has been consistently sidelined despite its immense contributions to the state’s economy and cultural identity.
Adding her voice to the advocacy, Mrs. Oladipupo Grace Funmilayo commended Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa for spearheading such a noble cause. She particularly appealed to political leaders and citizens of Ibadan, the state capital, to demonstrate statesmanship by supporting other regions in their quest for inclusivity.
“This advocacy is timely, bold, and necessary. We must all understand that inclusive governance strengthens unity. I appeal to Ibadan to extend its political goodwill and support to other regions, especially Oke-Ogun, for the governorship of our dear state,” she remarked.
According to the group, this dominance has not only entrenched political imbalance but also hindered equitable distribution of development resources. It noted that while Ibadan, as the state capital, continues to enjoy infrastructural advantage, other regions have been subjected to neglect, thereby fueling disenchantment and weakening the fabric of inclusive governance.
The group insists that a structured, rotational system is essential for healing political fault lines, restoring confidence in state leadership, and ensuring that all communities enjoy a sense of belonging in Oyo’s governance process.
Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, market associations, media practitioners, and political stakeholders to unite behind the principle of rotation. It described the campaign not as a political agenda but as a “moral duty and democratic necessity.”
National Secretary of the group, Pst. Favour Adéwoyin, stressed:
“We are not asking for charity. We are demanding our constitutional and democratic right to be seen, heard, and allowed to lead. The future of Oyo State lies in shared power and shared prosperity.”
With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the group maintained that the time for political recalibration is now. It emphasised that equity in power distribution is not an act of sentiment but a duty of justice that will strengthen democracy and promote sustainable development.
In its concluding message, the group pledged to intensify grassroots mobilisation, host town hall engagements, launch media advocacy campaigns, and engage in strategic consultations until the call for power rotation gains traction across Oyo State.
“History will remember those who stood on the side of justice when it mattered most,” the communiqué concluded.
